Friday, July 03, 2009

Felty fun

I saw these little felt "boards" ages ago and added the concept to me list of gift ideas. With an invitation to a 4 year old birthday party, I thought this would be good to try.

The outside has handles and a pocket for storing the felt shapes.
I still have more shapes to cut, but they are fiddly and I dislike fiddly, so I haven't done them yet. I was thinking of adding accessories such as a hat, bag etc. There are some more hair bits that must have stayed in the pocket.

Jalisa has requested one for christmas. I hope the birthday girl likes it.

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

Goals for the rest of the year

6 months down, 6 months to go...I need some new crafty related goals to work on for the rest of the year.

  1. Sew two items per week
  2. Try out a new pattern (for me) each month
  3. Blog more often
  4. Sew kids Christmas presents by October 31st
  5. Use my stash for summer clothes

Hmm, I think that is achievable.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Sewing for June

This is me trying to get a good picture for a competition held at Crafty Mamas. I did not succeed.
Jalisa is wearing a white cotton blouse (from Ottobre 3/07 I think) with a cord skirt (swirl dyed by me). Trim at the bottom is some mini pom poms. Scott is wearing a jacket ( I used the Kwik sew for toddler hoodie changed it to have a lining, and used the zipper version). I used an applique from Ottobre for the dog. The pants are also Ottobre. I used a brown stretch cord with a dog print for the pockets.
Here is the jumper I am wearing in the first photo. I think it is pattern 2993 from Kwik Sew. I used a mauve-ish sweater knit that I have been stashing since uni.
I made this last night. I wanted to time how long it took to make since someone asked me. Under two hours. This is a nice light grey marle fleece fabric. I found a Barbie zipper pull for $1 so I added that today. This is the same pattern that I used earlier this month, but I omitted the pockets.

Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Hoodie for me

This is the first hoodie that I have made for myself. I am pretty happy with it, even though the pockets are positioned wrong and I haven't topstitched the zipper.

The pattern is Kwik Sew 2993. The fabric is some hand dyed fleecy. It is similar to the fabric I dyed for Scott's hoodie, but a slightly different shade - mine is brighter. This is a great pattern though I think there is at least one mistake in it. I used the zipper length recommended (actually, it was 1 cm longer) and it is a little too short. I ended up curving the seam at the top to blend in with the hood, otherwise the end of the zipper tape would have shown. I know that when I did a jacket for DH with a zipper, it had me curve the end of the zipper into the seam to prevent this. I did not have enough length in the zipper to do this.

I did trace off a larger than normal size, so it is a little baggy. It is just a casual, around the house - do the errands in type of jumper.

Sewing binge

Shamefully I haven't updated my blog in over a month. Some of that time I wasn't sewing but the last couple of weekends I have gotten my butt into gear and done some much needed winter sewing.


When I asked what Jalisa wanted me to make her this winter, she said dresses. So dresses she got. Being extremely lazy, I just used the one pattern. I modifyed a tunic top (from Ottobre 4/07) by lengthening it and adding more swing. Jalisa picked this fabric herself at the fabric shop...not a fan, but I couldn't persuade her to choose something else. Leggings are from Ottobre 4/04.
This leggings patterns is great - it makes up in 10 minutes if you overlock and coverstitch it. I am not compeltely happy with the sizing of the tunic top - it was huge, even after taking in. Pitty I had already cut out a few others otherwise I would have traced something else out. For the next set, I used picot elastic at the neckline and gathered the sleeves along the seam so it is "bunchy." The leggings are hand dyed by moi.
Nothing much to say about the next set. Well, I say set but they can be mixed and matched a little. I have had these fabrics in the stash for a few year, they are a cotton lycra that I picked up for a song.
Hoodie for Scotty - pattern is from the kwik sew for toddlers book. Fabric is hand dyed by me.
Here is an action shot of the first dress/leggings set. This style of dress is very practical for an active child.
Some pants for Scott - pattern is from Ottobre 3/02. This will have a coordinating jumper made soon - I am going to use a pale blue french terry knit.
PJ pants for the girl - I should have bought more to make a matching button down shirt. I will have to make some tops to got with these.
Tops for me. This is my staple pattern (kwik sew 3003) and I have modifyed the tee to have long sleeves and a crew neck. The pink fabric I have had in the stash for at least 7 years.
Another hand dyed hoodie for Scott.
Another pair of leggings for Jalisa. There is elastic at the legs to make it bunchy. I also made another hand dyed dress but I couldn't find it anywhere, it must be in the wash. I tried to stamp patty cakes on, but the fabric paint I was using wasn't cooperating. I ended up making silver polka dots all over the front of the dress.
I have a pair of pinstripe wool work pants that I need to hem, and a zippered hoodie for me that needs to have the facing inserted and I can update again.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Bellville Sassoon gown

I finally have finished something to post about - one of my entries for the show. The pattern is Vogue 1031, a Bellville Sassoon design. It was chosen based on the look of the finished product as well as it's difficulty (rated advanced). I also thought that the design would work well in a cotton based fabric, which is a requirement for entering in the competition.

I have used a red cotton poplin. I can't remember if it has a touch of elastane in it as well. Here is the front:

The back ( couldn't check my rear view, so pleats are a little weird)

The side
From reading the instructions, I wasn't sure exactly why it was given an advanced rating but after completing it, I now know. Each piece looks like a squiggle, it is very hard to tell each piece from the next and look at all the pleating. It comes together beautifully, it is just time consuming.
If I get into the state finals, I am going to have a beaded hairclip and necklace made up.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Swap goodies

Boy do I love swaps...Jalisa is starting to love them too. Her she is modelling the outfit sent to us by Natalie.
Hmm, what to say. Lots of girly goodness going on here - rickrack, ribbon, applique, shirring - this outfit has the lot. Patterns are Ottobre, I recognised them immediately. The outfit is topped off with some gorgeous bows and clips. Jalisa loves these. No doubt they are available from Natalie's shop.

Onto Scott (aka grumpy pants)
Isn't this gorgeous too. Joy has appliques the dinosaur on her embroidery machine. I love the combination of coloured that were used - very noice. There is some more applique on the back.

The workmanship of both outfits is amazing - the topstitching is perfect, the finishing is done well...thank you both so much from all of us here

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

I am so not getting sick of the swirls

...though the sickly lemon-y smell of the shaving cream does my head in a little.


The pink on the left is the first "print" and then I recycle the foam and reuse as the base for some more swirls. The swirls aren't as clear but then again, I did not leave these ready-made tees on the dye for as long as I normally do.

After seeing me swirl dye some singlets for Scott (which worked okay by the way), Jalisa requested some of her own. Now, all of her singlets have been dyed on a previous occassion so I thought I could dye up some plain cotton knit and make them into singlets for her.
Pattern is Ottobre 4/04, number 33. Very straightforward, easy pattern but there is a printing error in my copy. The pattern said to trace green patterns on sheet E, but it is actually sheet F.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Peppermint swirl tee

Well, here is my favourite tee pattern (curved raglan, Ottobre 2/05) made up with some green swirl dyed jersey. I whipped it up in between cooking dinner (you know, chuck some meat into defrost, sew, cut up vegies, sew...) I will have to see if I can find the link for these cloth liners. I just used 4 layers of flannelette that I had swirl dyed. My stitching is embarrassingly crooked, but I am really happy with them being my first time and all. The colours look a little bit off - lefty is a turquoise blue and righty is deep purple with a hint of pink.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Friday Dye day - more swirls

Dyeing is addictive. Need I say more. Above is some flannelette.
These started off as beige jersey (yes, desperate for a fix that I am using beige instead of white...I have metres and metres of the stuff). They will end as tees for the kids.

The above is a piece I did last week. This is my favourite that I have done so far - rainbow colours on mauve. You will have to check back later (much later) to see the final product (it is destined to be a show entry)